Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra Costs $200 More—Most Buyers Should Choose the S12+

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra starts at $1,399.99, exactly $200 above the $1,199.99 Galaxy Tab S12+. The Ultra is not faster: both tablets use the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 processor, run Android 17 with One UI 9, and share the same display technology, charging speed, speakers, water resistance, and software-support promise.

The extra money primarily buys a much larger canvas and a few specialist upgrades. That is valuable for artists, editors, and people who keep a tablet on a desk. For reading, travel, note-taking, and general entertainment, the lighter S12+ is likely the more comfortable purchase—and it is the only model Samsung lists with an optional 5G configuration in the United States.

The screen is the decision

The Tab S12 Ultra has a 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2960-by-1848 resolution. The S12+ uses a 12.6-inch panel at 2800 by 1752. Both support adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz and reach a claimed 1,600 nits of peak brightness, or 1,000 nits in High Brightness Mode.

Two diagonal inches sound modest, but the Ultra approaches small-laptop territory. The added area helps when three apps share the screen, a drawing needs a larger workspace, or a video timeline and controls must remain visible together. Samsung says both tablets can divide the display into as many as three Multi Window sections, although some apps do not support that layout.

The price for that space is portability. The Wi-Fi S12+ weighs 553 grams, while the Ultra weighs 692 grams—a difference of 139 grams. The Ultra is impressively thin at 5.1mm, but thin does not mean easy to hold for an hour. Its 326.3mm width also demands a larger bag, keyboard, stand, and clear section of a tray table.

Performance and core features are shared

Both models pair the same Dimensity 9500 chip with a new 3D vapor chamber. Choosing the Ultra does not unlock a higher processor tier. Each tablet also includes an S Pen, four-channel speakers, an in-display fingerprint reader, and IP68 dust and water resistance. Samsung promises up to seven generations of operating-system upgrades and seven years of security updates for both.

The displays use the same AMOLED family, refresh ceiling, and brightness specification. For buyers worried that the smaller model is a compromised panel attached to flagship internals, it is not. The S12+ mainly gives up physical area, not the core screen experience.

Battery capacity follows chassis size: 11,600mAh in the Ultra and 10,600mAh in the S12+. Samsung rates them for up to 23 and 21 hours of local video playback, respectively. Those numbers come from a controlled test with 720p video, 162-nit brightness, and wireless connections disabled, so real endurance will vary. Both support 45W charging and are claimed to reach a full charge in about 95 minutes with the required adapter, which Samsung sells separately.

What the Ultra adds beyond size

The Ultra can be configured with 16GB of memory and 1TB of internal storage. The S12+ tops out at 12GB and 512GB. Both accept microSD cards up to 2TB, so the Ultra’s higher ceiling matters most when large apps and active project files need to stay on faster internal storage.

Networking differs too. Samsung lists Wi-Fi 7 for the Ultra and Wi-Fi 6E for the S12+. Wi-Fi 7 only pays off with a compatible router and network conditions that can use it; it should not outweigh size or price on its own. Conversely, the S12+ offers a 5G model with pSIM and eSIM support, giving frequent travelers a connection that does not depend on tethering.

The Ultra adds an 8-megapixel ultrawide rear camera beside the 13-megapixel main camera. The S12+ has only the 13-megapixel rear camera. Both use a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the front. Unless a workflow specifically requires wider document, room, or site captures from a tablet, the extra rear lens is a minor advantage.

Buy for where the tablet will live

Choose the Ultra if the tablet will spend most of its time on a desk or stand and the 14.6-inch workspace directly improves drawing, photo editing, video work, sheet music, or multi-app research. The option for 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage also makes more sense for long, local creative projects.

Choose the S12+ if the device will move between rooms, commutes, flights, classrooms, and meetings. It retains the same processor, premium display type, S Pen, charging capability, durability rating, and update commitment while costing less and weighing about 20% less than the Ultra. The optional cellular model strengthens that argument for mobile work.

Neither starting price includes Samsung’s keyboard accessories, and adding one pushes either setup deeper into laptop territory. Before buying, handle a 14-inch-class tablet if possible and price the complete kit, not just the slate. The Ultra earns its premium when screen area is part of the job. Otherwise, the S12+ preserves nearly all of the experience in a device that is easier to carry and easier to justify.